My Pet Hawk

[casportpony]

I raised and flew Birmingham Rollers. If I raised 90 young birds a year, by the time I had them flown out I'd be down to maybe 20 of the strongest fliers/poorest performers. It got to the point where I could not justify raising birds to be killed. Cooper's, Merlins, and an occasional Peregrine were relentless.

Ah, I understand. I've read that rollers are easily caught?

 

[sourland]

Ah, I understand. I've read that rollers are easily caught?

They are bred to kit (fly and operate as one in a flock) so will not leave the flock and trap in individually. Homers are smart enough to leave the flock and dive bomb into the loft. Rollers circle and land as a group making them vulnerable to attack. Also those that have been rolling the most are the most tired again making them more vulnerable.

 

[casportpony]

They are bred to kit (fly and operate as one in a flock) so will not leave the flock and trap in individually. Homers are smart enough to leave the flock and dive bomb into the loft. Rollers circle and land as a group making them vulnerable to attack. Also those that have been rolling the most are the most tired again making them more vulnerable.

Thanks for explaining that to us!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Beautiful photo Kathy.

I agree, it looks like a juvenile Cooper's Hawk (tail feathers do look tapered in the one photo).

They are the reason I have my banties and grow out chicks under hawk netting behind heavy wire 24x7.

If I let a chick free range before 8 to 10 weeks of age, or let my banties out at all, I soon come out to a pile of feathers or a missing chick.

I've seen them swoop down and pick 4 week old chicks off the ground and fly out.

My larger banties they kill and eat at site.

I missed him this year, but for several years after building the broody hutch/grow out pen, I had a Cooper's sit on the fence post staring into the grow out at all the tasty nuggets he couldn't get to.

You can't do anything about them in Oregon (or in the USA, for that matter)...I go out with pots and pans and scare them away, hang as much hawk netting as I can, have a small rat terrier to make noise. I get maybe a bird lost a year now instead of 1 or 2 a month...chicks as soon as I let them out.

Beautiful birds. Amazing fliers.

LofMc

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I know nothing about hawks, but two people told me that it's a juvenile Cooper's Hawk?

That is right. Likely an immature male Coopers hawk. These hawks are the middle sized of the three chicken hawks. They can and will take full sized chickens.

 

[casportpony]

Anyone know what type this is?

 

[DwayneNLiz]

Anyone know what type this is?
View attachment 1156925

red shouldered (guess)

 

[casportpony]

red shouldered (guess)

Thanks! It's the first one I've seen.

 

[DwayneNLiz]

Thanks! It's the first one I've seen.

theyre very pretty (far, far away. Not near my house. lol)

 

[centrarchid]

Red-shouldered Hawks here not a threat to chickens. They spend extended periods of time during winter months in close proximity to the chickens without latter getting stirred up. When Red-shouldered Hawks present, the more problematic Copper's Hawks do not hunt around pens.